William Reid Stakes Preview

Mar 26 2015

Group 1 racing returns to Mooney Valley this Friday night with the 90th running of the William Reid. Gallopers will fly over the 1200m in a race that appears more open on paper than Sydney Heads and should be dominated by the girls.

First held in 1925, the William Reid has champions, Black Caviar, Manikato and Miss Andretti on the honor roll (just to name a few)! While this year the race might not have attracted the best sprinters, there still is the opportunity to get some nice odds and collect.

The Group 1 William Reid Stakes is set to jump at 9:45pm (AEDT). Tune into Sky Racing for all the action!

The TAB.com.au market has Angelic Light favourite at $5.00 and probably rightly so.

The 5-year-old mare was super in the Manikato last spring. Punters will be looking at the Lanken Rupee form and hoping the mare can produce her best as she returns from a break.

Second favorite for the race is Vain Queen at $5.50. She was super two starts ago just trucking into the race at Flemington and she was only just beaten in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. She’s in this race up to her eyeballs and will only just need a little bit of luck to figure in the finish.

Sydneysider, Rebel Dane ($5.50), has class and seems to always run his best races fresh. He’s never been out of a place first up and I loved the trial at Warwick Farm recently. His 1st up run last prep was a beauty! From barrier 7, Craig Williams has the ability to get into a lovely position and produce this son of California Dane at the right time. I think he’s the winner.

Equally on the fourth line of betting are Earthquake $6.50 and Peron $6.50. The latter hitting the line nice and hard last start at Flemington in the Hoystead.

I love this mare, Peron by Husson, and followed her Brisbane winter carnival prep last year. Like Vain Queen above she can run a cracking race here and hit the line well. Earthquake was much better last start but I don’t think she has come back the same horse this prep. I hope for her fans she runs like her old self.

Check out the full TAB.com.au market for the Group 1 William Reid Stakes here.

The only other runner in single figures is the D K Weir trained Lucky Hussler. Wasn’t this bloke a find last spring. I remember this horse racing around Queensland. He was going ok but when he transferred to the Weir stable he just turned into a winner. However, I’m not sure if he can win this 1st up. I’d love to see the camp take this horse back home to Queensland and set him for a race like the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke.

The rest of the field is at double figure odds and you would start to think it drops away. But you could honestly make a case for another 3 or 4. Famous Seamus was one of the best runs you’ll see in a Manikatio last spring and he wasn’t too bad last start.

Galaxy Pegasus could be anything, the penny hasn’t dropped with this colt and Fontelina could pop up at odds after narrowly going down as runner up in this race last year.

I love Group 1 racing on a Friday night. The beers are cold, there’s a bit of footy on and hopefully you can fill up the pockets for Saturday. Giddy Up!